Let’s resume our walk through Karyes. In post 1269 I ended the tour with a picture of two large buildings (nr 50 and 51), belonging to Chilandariou. On this map post 1269 starts at nr 1, today we start at nr 2, and have a we’ll have a closer look at six Konaki. First I walked behind the building of the Holy Epistatia (4) and old tower (3), where the Tragos (the “Magna Carta” of Athos) is kept. On the bachground the bell-tower (2) of the Protaton church (1). I continued and crosses the main straat arriving at building 14, the Konaki of Filotheou. Konaki Filotheou According to this inscription the building is relatively new and build in 1965 Konaki Filotheou seen from another angle, with the bookshop and the old tower in the background. I continued walking South, in the direction of nr 23, the Konaki of Esfigmenou. Just before this building are newly renovated large complex showed up, that is not mentioned on any map I have.

Newly renovated buildings just before nr 23 Maybe this could it be a new Konaki of a monastery, because, as you can see on the pictures below, the building of Esfigmenou seems to be in very poor condition: Konaki Esfigmenou (nr 23) On the opposite side of the street: the Konaki of Karakalou (nr 22) And then, at a junction of two roads, you can see the Konaki of Xenofontos (29), on the road leading back to the Protaton-square. Konaki Xenofontos: everything looks freshly renovated and building is still in progress. The gate to the Xenofontos Konaki Konaki Xenofontos: the church If you follow the road to the South it leads to the large – but nearly ruined – Konaki of Vatopedi (24). A strange thing for such a rich monastery! Konaki VatopediAnd a little bit further down the road the Konaki of Docheiariou (25).Konaki DocheiariouA stone plaquette in the wall of Konaki DocheiariouA (unsharp) detail of the stone with a text from 1924On this road you will find building 28, kelli KoutloumousiouThe road leading back to Konaki Xenofontos (29) and building 26.When you turn to the right taking the road leading outside town you’ll find building 26, a kelli from Lavra.

This ends the survey of the group of Konaki in the South East part of Karyes. The Konaki of Dionysiou, Grigoriou and Lavra lie further down the road and are not on the map. I was not able to go find them this time, because they were too far away. Next time I wil show you the remaining five Konaki in the south West part and some other buildings.

3 Responses to 1270 – the Konaki of Karyes (part 2)

The official Esfigmenou is housed in the konaki of that monastery in Karyes (the original monastery at the NE seashore is cursed as heretical). Maybe the new buildings near the konaki house the official monastery. Maybe any reader can confirm this.

Well, I can answer my own question and confirm it. I just found in my archive a digital photo from 2009 on which they are building the very building you photographed.
The accompaning text told it is the new, official Esphigmenou.
Wim, if you want the picture, please tell me how to upload it, e.g. to your email-address.